Biological Factors Affecting Helminth Parasites Infecting Lethrinus Mahsena Fish From The Red Sea

This study aimed to identify helminth parasites infecting Lethrinus mahsena fish in Jeddah coast, Saudi Arabia, and the biological factors possibly affecting the prevalence of infection. A total of 234 Lethrinus mahsena fish were collected monthly at the Rass Mehsen site from at the Jeddah coast for a year between 2023 to 2024.Fish infected were examined to determine the helminths prevalence, and the relationship between the infection and the biological factors; gender, season, length, and weight. Overall, our study showed 58(24.8%) Lethrinus mahsena fish were infected with helminth parasites. More precisely, 5.1% of Lethrinus mahsena fish were infected with nematodes, 4.3% with trematodes, and 3.4% with cestodes and 4.3% with mixed infection (both cestodes and nematodes), 3.4% with both (nematodes and trematodes) and 4.3% with both mixed infection ( trematodes and cestodes).Nematodes were more common and abundant than trematodes and cestodes. The correlation between the type of infection and the five biological factors revealed that host factors, males with weight 561-750 kg and length 36-41 cm had a high helminth parasite infection rate and based on environmental factors, the autumn season had the highest infection rates, while single nematode and mixed infection (both cestodes and nematodes), (nematodes and trematodes) infection was significantly different among the four seasons. There was no significant difference between the gender factor and a single infection of trematodes, but it had a significant role in mixed infection, , this is study to shed light on helminths infection in Lethrinus mahsena fish from Red sea at the Jeddah coast, Saudi Arabia. This research could aid authorities in taking necessary and preventative measures against fish parasitic diseases.